Most skin cancers are removed surgically, by a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist. If the cancer is small, the procedure can be done quickly and easily, in  the physician's office, using local anesthesia.  If the cancer is large, however, or if it has spread to the lymph glands or elsewhere in the body, major surgery may be required.  A reconstructive surgical procedure may also be required after some Mohs surgeries.

Skin lesions are often excised for cosmetic appearances, to remove an inflamed cyst or  because of recurrent infection.  The most common type of excision is an elliptical excision. The ellipse is designed so that the resulting scar runs parallel with existing skin creases.  This ensures that the scar is as narrow and short as possible.